The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake's Divisive Character Models May Reflect Shigeru Miyamoto's Love of Puppetry, Nintendo Veteran Believes

The upcoming Ocarina of Time remake has sparked debate over its character designs, with some feeling they reflect developer Shigeru Miyamoto's fondness for puppetry. Nintendo veteran Takaya Imamura claimed to see Miyamoto's "love of puppet dramas" in the new Link model. Imamura, a 30-year Nintendo veteran, is an art director for the game's sequel.

While Imamura is just speculating, the resemblance to puppet TV shows and movies is undeniable. Such designs may evoke nostalgia for classic puppet theater like Japan's bunraku theatre and 1960s-70s TV series, as well as recent puppet shows like NHK's Shin Sanjushi and The New Three Musketeers. The sharp, doll-like faces of the new Link characters also remind some of films like The Dark Crystal and even Nintendo's own Star Fox characters, which are styled like The Muppets.

Miyamoto's puppetry love affair is well-known, evident in the Muppet-like puppets used in Nintendo's 2015 E3 presentation with Miyamoto, Reggie Fils-Aimé, and Satoru Iwata. Ultimately, whether the Ocarina of Time remake's puppet-inspired designs fit Hyrule is up for fans to decide.